{
  "id": 8579222,
  "title": "Haze watch: 21 areas nationwide wake up to unhealthy air",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/20/haze-watch-21-areas-nationwide-wake-up-to-unhealthy-air",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-20T01:13:16.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Malay Mail",
    "slug": "malay-mail",
    "url": "https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2026/09/20/haze-watch-21-areas-nationwide-wake-up-to-unhealthy-air/235819"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "On September 20, haze once again reduced air quality across various regions in Malaysia, with 21 areas recording unhealthy conditions. Sarawak experienced the most severe levels, with readings of 182 in Serian, 168 in Samarahan, and 164 in Sri Aman, according to the Malaysian Air Pollutant Index Management System. Johor faced unhealthy air quality in Larkin (162) and Pasir Gudang (155), while Putrajaya, Nilai in Negeri Sembilan, and Batu Pahat in Johor each recorded 154. In Selangor, Shah Alam reported 153, and Johan Setia recorded 127. Cheras, a part of Kuala Lumpur, was the only area in the capital in the unhealthy category, with a reading of 133. Other locations that registered unhealthy air quality included Batu Muda in Kuala Lumpur (153) and Politeknik Kota Kinabalu in Sabah (98). Conversely, five areas had good air quality, with Tanah Merah in Kelantan (47), Sungai Petani in Kedah (41), and Alor Setar (35) showing the lowest readings. The Air Pollutant Index classifies air quality into five categories: good (0-50), moderate (51-100), unhealthy (101-200), very unhealthy (201-300), and hazardous (301 and above).",
  "summary": "KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 20 — Haze continued to cloud parts of the country this morning, with 21 areas recording unhealt...",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Channel News Asia",
        "title": "‘I can only wait and hope’: Haze hits livelihoods in Sumatra as workers toil in unhealthy air",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/19/i-can-only-wait-and-hope-haze-hits-livelihoods-in-sumatra-as-workers",
        "published": "2026-09-19T22:00:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Malay Mail",
        "title": "Haze watch: 21 areas nationwide wake up to unhealthy air",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/20/haze-watch-21-areas-nationwide-wake-up-to-unhealthy-air-8587033",
        "published": "2026-09-20T01:13:16.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}